Wing band for chicks



Feb. 16, 1960 Filed June 24, 1957 H. W. DRYDEN WING BAND FOR CHICKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HORA CE W- DR YDE/V UMM ATTORNEY Unit Sim P t I WlNG'BAN-D FOR CHICKS Horace W. Dryden, Modesto, Calif.

Application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,379 1 Claim. (Cl. 40-302) This invention relates to an improved marking device. This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 597,760, filed July 13, 1956, and now abandoned.

My new marker is especially useful as a chick wing marker, and will be described principally in that connection, but it may be used wherever identification is desired, as, for example, for dressed chickens, for nursery stock, for turkeys, as car tags for livestock, etc.

Among other things, the invention solves the longstanding problems of pedigreeing day-old chicks. The problems have been how to provide these chicks with a marker which is not too big or heavy for them, which will not injure them either during application or afterward, which cannot accidentally come off and get lost, and which is readable so that the user does not have to manipulate the chick unduly, either during application or afterward, while trying to read it.

Heretofore, most chick wing markers have been made from metal, such a marker being exemplified by the Haas Patent 1,844,359, issued February 9, 1932. No metal marker has ever been fully satisfactory. Their sharp edges have frequently injured chicks, and the point that projected from them, and was used to insert them through the wing, later scratched and sometimes wounded the chicks under normal "living conditions. Further disadvantages of all metal identification tags for chicks have been that special fastening tools had to be used for ins-tallation and that it either tok two persons to put on each badge or an unusually dextrous person. When installed, the band was not easy to read, because the figures were small and did not stand out clearly, usually being indented. In summary, metal bands have been hard to apply, have been hard to read, have tended to lose their shape because of the flexibility of the metal, inevitably have had sharp edges which cut into the wing, have tended to slip over the wristbone of the chick, causing serious damage and deformity, and have frequently become unfastened and lost ofi chicks.

' Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a satisfactory wing band for marking day-old chicks.

Another object is to provide a fowl marker which can be applied to a day-old fowl and yet can remain on the wing without danger of loss throughout the life of the chicken, duck, pheasant, or other type of bird.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wing marker for day-old chicks presenting the indicia very legibly and displaying it in such a way that the indicia will not be concealed beneath the feathers as the chick grows older. In fact, the numbers or letters constituting the indicia may be large enough to serve as identification for the trapnesting of adult chickens, turkeys, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel wing badge for young chicks which will not tend to slip over the wrist and harm the chick. Achievement of this 2,924,903 Patented Feb. 16, 1960 employed, of having to check each chick carefully after a week or ten days and replace or relocate many bands because they then show up as injuring the wing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wing marker for day-old chicks in which there will be no sharp edges that tend to cut into the wing and damage the chick,

Another object of the invention is to provide a wing marker for young chicks which can be clasped on without any tools and when so clasped will stay on and not come off accidentally. If sealing tools are used, this marker is made so that there is no chance for it ever to come off accidentally.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wing badge or band for young chicks which will not lose its shape and which, once installed, will retain its attitude where it is clearly readable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fowl marker which can be made in a variety of colors to aid in identifying the chicks, and which can have the indicia placed on in a color or colors sharply contrasting with the background. This contrasts with metal bands, where attempts to paint them or otherwise apply colored backgrounds failed because the color wore off.

Another object is to provide an all-plastic identification marker. As stated above, such a marker may be used for a variety of purposes. For example, it may be used on object contrasts with the practice, where metal bands are I dressed chickens to identify them by trademark. This would solve the problem of trademark identification on such gods, for there are many people who will not purchase a dressed chicken which has a metal label on it, for fear of its injuring their teeth, of its having an etfect on the taste of the chicken, or of chemical reactions with the meat. The present invention eliminates this problem and makes trademarking of such goods feasible. It also has wide uses elsewhere.

Another object is to provide a generally flat plastic marker that is easily applied as a loop of the correct size.

The structure which achieves the above objects and overcomes the problems that confronted the prior art comprises an all-plastic, one-piece wing badge so shaped and constructed as to provide for legibility, proper support, and all the features enumerated above. It has an integral latch constructed according to the principles disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 480,233, filed January 6, 1955.

Also, the badge is preferably colored red in order to accomplish, in an unusual and unexpected manner, a final very important object, the prevention of cannibalism and pecking.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the inven tion will appear from the following description of preferred forms thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of a young chick on which has been secured a marker embodying the principles of the invention. The marker is lined to indicate the color red.

Fig. 2 is a further enlarged bottom plan view of the marker of Fig. l. The marker is not lined for color in Figs. 2 through 9, to show the structure more clearly.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the marker of Fig. 2, showing in solid lines the badge in its normal unfastened position, and in dotted lines a fully opened position with its ends spread apart for application to a chick, etc.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation and partly in section, generally similar to Fig. 3 but showing the badge in its closed position.

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5-5 Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing an intermediate stage in-the application of the marker.

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a modified form of band molded in a more open position.

Fig. 9 is a view in' perspective of another modified and preferred form of band,vmolde'd in-a nearlyflatposition but readily-applied as a loop; 7

The marker 10; shown in Figs.,1'7, isof simplef'appearance, but itsstructure has been subtly designed so as to achieve the above-mentioned objects and to fulfill a need which'has *existedformriny yfears'and was-never heretofore successfullymet. I v

Inthe first place, my noVePWing'badge.Itlcornprises a unitary, all-plastic; one-piece marker. As-seenwhen finished, it comprises a single "continuous strip: of "plastic molded, or otherwise formed, into the shape shown in the drawings. Preferably the device is molded from cellulose acetate b-u'ty'rate; a-plastie-producedby Eastman Kodak Companyunderthe trademark" Tenitei This is a tough, strong, plastic materialthat will bend without breaking, while ordinarily possessing a high degree of rigidity.

An-irnportant featureof the marker 10 is along, flat portion 11 extending the full length of one side of the badge andconstituting one'side thereof. This'fiat'portion 11 hasa'rounded end 12, and 'theend and'side edges 13 are rounded, leaving'no sharp edge that couldhann a chick, likethe edges inevitably present on'metalmarkers. The indi'cia 14ma-y comprisenumbers; letters, or other signs-on theoutside face'15 of thefiatportion 11. As showninFig. 1, when this 'badge'ltl isinstalled; the indicia 14 faces the onlooker, and" the barge 10 hangs down in a=clearly visible position. The'indicia' is printed on a flat, easy to read-surface that alwa-ys staysflat.

The remainder of'the strip continues" on at a' na'rrower width from the-end- 16 of the hat portion 11. This narrowerwidth is important in enabling readyinsertion through thewing web. The band is formed toprovide a curved, but approximately perpendicular end portion 20 that leads. from the-end-16 in arounded curve'to and constitutes part of a short loop portion21 havinga flat portion 22 spaced away from but generally parall'elto the long, fiat portion-1 1. The size of the loop 2'1is' carefully calculated to provide the maximum in comfort and safety for a day-old chick and to assure-that itwill not cramp the chick asitsgrows older. The -loop-portion 21 is ended by an inclined portion 23" thatextends preferably at about 45from theparallel portion 22-toward the long, flat portion 11 and leads intoashort, fiat-portion 24, thecorners'again b'eingrounded; This'gradualbend 23 .is importantduring insertion ofthe-bandimaking'it significantly easier than would be the case if it were a right angle.

When the marker isi nstalled, theportion-24dies against the inside face 17' of the-long, flat portion 11; Before the band 10 is installed, the portion 24lies-at-an angle as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3. The plastic is -light in weight, strong'and flexible, yet it has a very desirable rigidity so that :theloop portion '21-will not be flattened during ordinary use and could only be flattened by applying extreme pressure thereto.v However, ithas sufficient flexibility forthe marker to open widelywhen applying it, as shown in dotted li-nesinFig. 4; The flattening tendency. of metal bands is-one of-their principal defects; it makesthem very hard to-read and also caus'eswing damage.

The outer face 28 .ispreferably provided with raised lettering 29 that acts to give a non-skid grip and thereby makes handling and application easier; Serrations or roughening may be-used, but .the :raised -.le'ttering ;makes for economy, since it may comprise the trademark-and the patent status marking.

This short, flat portion 24 terminates in a sharp, pointed end 25 which isso constnlcted. as .to maketit possible to insert it through they wing 2.6 of aphick 30 withoutany the badge is in its closed position, this sharp point 25,

lies short of the rounded end 12 of the long, flat portion 11. This construction acts to protect the chicken from even the sharp, pointedien'd 25 after the badge 10 has been installed.

The inner surface 17 of the long, flat portion 11 is provided with an upstanding-stud: 31,, and the short, pointed, ,flat1portion.2 4 is. provided with an opening 32 adapted to receivethe' stud 31: These clasp portions 31 and 32 are constructedfinaccordance with my invention disclosed in pending applicationSerial No. 480,233, filed January 6, 1955. The stud 31 flares outwardly at its ends 33, being narrower at its base 34 than at its top portion 35. Since the entire unit material is made of one piece of plastic and since plastic' lias" substantially more elastomeric qualities of now than does a metal member, the'opening 32 canactually-besomewhat smaller than the studs outer end 35, and the stud 31 will still fit through the'opening'35, doingso with a sharp action which makes it difficult to loosen the applied badge 10, although this can'be done readily with the fingernails if desired or with a pen knife. However, the action is sulficiently tight so that it is impossible for the badge 10 to be detached accidentally or for the chicken 30 to remove it by any action that it might do. Alar'ge'number of tests have been carriedon with these'mark'ers 10, and

so far not one'has been lost off a chick. If it should be thought, however, that someonemight tam'per with the band; it can be made completely tamper proofby'sealing or flattening the stud'ltlwhich projects through the slot 35 as with apair of ordinary sharp-nosed p'liers;

The installation of the band is shown in-Figs} 6 and 7. As shown-in Fig. 6, where'the wing bones arealso' -illustrated in order to show the structure'of'thewing; the hand is'inser'ted through the web W ofachickswing 26, beyond the bones B1 The band 10 at'this-tir'ne'isopen and its ends may be somewhat spread apart; while the chick 39 is held in one hand and the badge 10in the other. The sharp-pointed end 25 is thenforced through the: wing W without any additional preparation andthe badge 10 is pushed in (Fig; 6). Then the marker-19'is turnedaround so that the web portion W-which is enolosed by the badge 10 lies substantially against the end curved portion '20; The badge 10 is lifted up substantially as shown'in-Fig. 7 and closed simply-by snappingthe stud 31- into the opening 32-with a thumb andforefinger; '1he-*mar'ker"-10 is then releasedtand it drops naturally to the'position shown in Fig. 1,:which-itmaintains' from then on;

Even whenrthe'chick 30 flaps its wings or lifts them, the'badge 10? isvisible and is of such light weight'that it does not interfere-with any'of the chicks'normal activity. Itcan' last for life andtidentify the pedigree'during all this time. The figures, while not so large as-those on the large size badges Whichare used forrtrap nesting (according to' the principles of several prior patents issued to me), nevertheless are very large for the purpose here concerned and provide amazing legibility. The plastic can be molded in anydesiredcolor, the indicia 14 being .stenciled on, as by a silk screen or-other process, with a typesof ink which practically imbedsitself in the'plastic and cannot be washed or scraped oif'under ordinary procedures.

A.modifiedl form 40 of. the band, shownin Fig. 8, resembles :the. one previously described,t except that it is molded in amorer'openzshape'andiis provided with an oftset-41; When, closed, it is identical in' conformation with the band 10.

Another modified? and-preferred form' of band..50 is shown in Fig. 9. As molded, it is --nearly flat,'-except for an ofiset 51 at the inclined portion 23 between the loops outer] side 22 and the, short, fiatportionl4. Also the shank for dressed poultry.

portion 52 between the narrowing shoulders 53 and the offset portion '51 is provided with a pair of transverse indentations 54, 55, spaced apart a distance equal to the height of the offset at 51, to form the opposite end of the loop. This offset 51 and indentations 54, 55 give the proper shaped loop when the band 50 is closed. When closed, band 40 and band 50 look like the band 10.

Picking and cannibalism have been a serious problem in the poultry industry. Most large producers have gone to the extent of cutting olf the beaks of the chicks to prevent the trouble. The use of my new plastic band makes it possible to eliminate this very expensive and messy operation. I have discovered that it is possible to counteract the dangerous tendency toward picking and cannibalism among young chicks by placing red wing bands on the chicks. Preferably a somewhat orange red, such as vermillion, is employed. This astonishing result is backed up by tests which, so far, indicate that the incorporation of the red color on the chicks wing has an educational or reverse-psychological effect. Apparently it teaches the chickens that not everything red is blood. Then, when the blood starts to show in the developing feathers, the chickens do not have a desire to pick. Whereas picking is common, at an age of about thirty to forty days, in a flock without these bands, picking has been almost totally absent at that age in a flock where the chicks wear my new red bands. This red color is indicated in Fig. 1. Since the plastic can be colored red before molding, so that the band is red throughout, the color can never come off, as it would if it were surface material on metal. In tests, bands of other colors, such as green and brown, failed to discourage picking, while the orange-red bands eliminated picking.

As stated earlier, the invention also has utility as a tag In this instance it is preferable and many State laws require that the tag be sealed. This can easily be accomplished by a few drops of liquid plastic cement, such as cellulose acetate dissolved in acetone, placed at the juncture between the locking tab 35 and the upper surface of the portion 24 at about the location where the lead line 33 in Fig. 4 touches the article. Or it can be sealed with pliers in the ordinary manner, mentioned above. Thus the marker of this invention, which is very easily applied and very easily sealed, may serve as an ideal marker for dressed poultry.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

An identification marker comprising a unitary, elongated plastic strip having a normally flat main portion and a shorter, fiat, ofiset end portion connected by a stiff shank portion to said main portion and lying in a plane generally parallel to that of said main portion, the end of said offset portion being pointed and having a stud-receiving opening therethrough, said main portion having a rounded end at the opposite extremity from said ofiset portion with a stud thereadjacent on one face extending toward the plane of said offset portion, said main portion bearing marking indicia on the other face, said main portion having a longer and wider part extending from said rounded end and a succeeding shorter and narrower part connected to said wider part by narrowing shoulders and extending toward said offset portion, said offset portion and said shank portion being the width of said narrower part, said narrower part having a pair of spaced widthwise-extending indentations providing two parallel lines of flexure for converting said strip into a looped band with a predetermined precise shape, one said indentation lying adjacent said narrowing shoulders and the other being spaced from it at a distance approximately equal to the length of said web, so that said strip is readily closed by fiexure along said indentations to provide a loop section with a generally rectangular shape, a portion of said narrower part lying parallel to said wider part and adapted to be locked closed by engagement of said stud with said stud-receiving opening, wherein said offset portion lies snugly against said wider part, the narrow width of said oifset portion, said web, and said narrow part enhancing the ease of insertion when said pointed end is forced through an object to be marked while said marker is in its original, generally flat position, said juncture forming a stop and indicator beyond which the strip is not pushed through said object, said band then being closed as stated, said pointed end lying short of said rounded end when the marker is closed, to guard said pointed end and prevent it from sticking into or against other things, the loop being stifi enough to resist distortion after installation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 749,035 Davis Jan. 5, 1904 834,587 Moyer Oct. 30, 1906 979,452 Edgar Dec. 27, 1910 1,635,853 Miller July 12, 1927 1,844,359 Haas Feb. 9, 1932 2,527,765 Roehrl Oct. 31, 1950 2,601,026 Jones June 17, 1952 2,794,277 Dryden June 4, 1957 

